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RAND_load_file(3)                                  OpenSSL                                 RAND_load_file(3)



NAME
       RAND_load_file, RAND_write_file, RAND_file_name - PRNG seed file

SYNOPSIS
        #include <openssl/rand.h>

        const char *RAND_file_name(char *buf, size_t num);

        int RAND_load_file(const char *filename, long max_bytes);

        int RAND_write_file(const char *filename);

DESCRIPTION
       RAND_file_name() generates a default path for the random seed file. buf points to a buffer of size
       num in which to store the filename. The seed file is $RANDFILE if that environment variable is set,
       $HOME/.rnd otherwise. If $HOME is not set either, or num is too small for the path name, an error
       occurs.

       RAND_load_file() reads a number of bytes from file filename and adds them to the PRNG. If max_bytes
       is non-negative, up to to max_bytes are read; starting with OpenSSL 0.9.5, if max_bytes is -1, the
       complete file is read.

       RAND_write_file() writes a number of random bytes (currently 1024) to file filename which can be used
       to initialize the PRNG by calling RAND_load_file() in a later session.

RETURN VALUES
       RAND_load_file() returns the number of bytes read.

       RAND_write_file() returns the number of bytes written, and -1 if the bytes written were generated
       without appropriate seed.

       RAND_file_name() returns a pointer to buf on success, and NULL on error.

SEE ALSO
       rand(3), RAND_add(3), RAND_cleanup(3)

HISTORY
       RAND_load_file(), RAND_write_file() and RAND_file_name() are available in all versions of SSLeay and
       OpenSSL.



0.9.7l                                           2001-03-21                                RAND_load_file(3)